Best concerts of 2005

I was traveling so much during the first 20 days of December that I couldn't attend too many concerts this music season. However, falling back on my vast experience as a rasika, I decided to focus on quality rather than quantity.

I attended three concerts of T.M. Krishna - with his concert at Kalarasana on Dec.26 being the pick of the lot.

TMK/ S Varadarajan/ Trichy Sankaran/ BS Purushottaman

Viribhoni - Bhairavi
Pankaja Lochana - Kalyani (Short R sketch, S)
Vachamago - Kaikavasi
Nadamadi Thirinda - Kambhodi (R,S)
Kaligiyunte - Keervani (RNS)
RTP - Varali (Pallavi - Kana Kidaikkumo Sabesan Dharisanam KandAl Kali Theerume - Ragamalika swara in Sahana, Simhavahini)
Aduvome - Maund
Jagadhodarana - Misra Kapi
Thillana - Chenjurutti

Krisha rules. Period.

The second best concert I attend this season was U. Shrinivas at Karalarasana on January 1. Shrinivas selection of ragas and songs were absolutely great - until the main raga (Shanmugapriya), that is. Even the thani shani-despite the long line up of accompanists-was tolerablely short and sweet. After that, however, like in several Shrinivas concerts, it was all down hill with way tooooooo many thukkadas including one Bhartaiyar song,Magudi (which Shrinivas-amost embarrassedly-announced was someone's request) and the inevitable (with Shrinivas) Sai Bhajan.

A concert without an Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi is simply not complete.

That said, here's a big thanks to Krishna and Shrinivas for making the 2005 season - though short - a memorable one.